The political landscape along the Crest (or Spine) of the Continent, from Mexico to Canada, can be as variable as the physical terrain. As the Wildlands Project and its partners work to connect habitats across regional and international borders in the West, it is important to recognize that Canadian, Mexican and American audiences typically hold widely different views about conservation issues.

Public opinion research and years of experience on the ground tell us that general attitudes about conservation differ widely across North America’s international borders. Canadians in Alberta and British Columbia are more positive about conserving land and the environment than Americans in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. American attitudes toward conservation tend to grow more favorable moving southwest into Arizona and New Mexico, but the trend reverses dramatically over the border in Mexico. Public awareness and concern for the environment is dramatically lower in Mexico than elsewhere in North America, to the extent that ecology is often entirely absent from the public agenda.

Attitudes toward large-scale connectivity initiatives are equally varied across borders. For example, Canadians are highly supportive of the Yellowstone to Yukon concept, with a recent poll indicating 87% in favor. Americans are somewhat less supportive, but still in favor, with a 66% approval rating. But while Canadians could think of few reasons to oppose Y2Y, Americans voiced skepticism about the size of government, the goals of environmentalism and the size and cost of the endeavor. While Canadians readily entrust land to the government for conservation, western Americans are deeply concerned about property rights.

Southern climates are also harder on predators. Despite the fact that few Canadians hunt or own guns, Canadians are largely in favor of protection for large predators. Americans, on the other hand, hunt and own guns in large numbers but tend to fear predators. A recent poll indicates that most Canadians feel that there are not enough bears and wolves in Canada, while Americans feel that the western U.S. is home to just the right number of bears and far too many wolves. In Mexico, attitudes toward large predators are largely a function of economics rather than culture. When jaguars and wolves are seen as a threat to ranching, they are killed. However, when predators generate profit as a result of tourism or incentive programs, Mexicans will actively protect them.

In such a varied political climate, local awareness is the key to success on the ground. Taking the diversity of regional public opinion into account brings us one step closer to protecting the natural diversity we value so highly. — Pyramid Communications